Home  About FNI  Research  Publications  Staff  News & events  Contact		FNI NEWS High North Geopolitics and the Environment (26.11.2008) Is the Arctic institutional framewok suitable for dealing with climate change and other pressing environmental challenges facing the High North? This is the main research question in a new project launched today. Global environmental change affects the Arctic with particular force, notably with respect to temperature change and bioaccumulation of pollutants that pose severe health threats. The ‘Arctic eight’ include two pivotal states in global climate politics, the USA and Russia. Moreover, China has recently applied for observer status in the Arctic Council, today a major institution for pinpointing Arctic consequences of global warming and for generating Arctic premises in broader policy debates on mitigation and adaptation. This new FNI project – a work package within the larger GeoPolitics in the High North research programme – will examine the adequacy of the Arctic institutional architecture in face of pressing environmental challenges concerning climate change, long-range transport of hazardous waste, nuclear safety and regional oil and gas development. The project will examine the environment-related interests of major actors in the Arctic region, with emphasis on Norway, Russia, the EU, and the USA. It will also evaluate the problem-solving adequacy of the activities that the Arctic Council and other regional Arctic institutions specialise in. Finally, the project will clarify the political room for, and desirability of, modifying the division of labour between Arctic institutions and broader organisations and decision-making venues. Throughout the studies, implications for Norwegian interests will be discussed. GeoPolitics in the High North is a research programme running from 2008 to 2012, which aims at developing new knowledge about the interaction of actors in the High North. The programme is coordinated by the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies, with FNI's Olav Schram Stokke leading the Climate Change and Environmental Protection work package. FNI researchers also contribute to several other work packages. The programme is financed through the Research Council of Norway and is launched today at the Council's High North conference in Kirkenes. Share: Further information:   Download GeoPolitics in the High North presentation brochure (PDF)   Go to the GeoPolitics in the High North website   See FNI's presentation of the Climate Change and Environmental Protection work package   Read more about FNI's research on Polar and Russian politics   Contact person at FNI: Olav Schram Stokke Top		The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) is an independent foundation engaged in research on international environmental, energy, and resource management politics. The Institute maintains a multi-disciplinary approach, with main emphasis on political science, economics, and international law.
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